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Orthopaedic appliancesRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Orthopedic Instrumentation, Internal Fixation Means, Cortical PlateOrthopaedic appliances description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070043367, Orthopaedic appliances. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to orthopaedic appliances and more specifically to a plate and Kirshner-wire (K wire) system used for fixation of fractures of the olecranon. Also disclosed is a protective end cap for the femoral stem in hip replacement surgery. BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART [0002] Certain types of fractures of the upper arm bones cannot be effectively healed without the use of a bone screw, pin, cable, wire or plate. The use of each of these is known to the prior art. [0003] One of the most common fractures of the elbow involves the olecranon, the proximal end of the ulna. In the most typical fracture pattern, the olecranon is severed from the rest of the ulna along the bottom of the trochlear notch. Such fractures are often difficult to treat because the powerful muscles attached to the olecranon tend to pull it away from the rest of the ulna and rotate it around the trochlea. It is necessary to reattach the severed olecranon to the ulna to immobilize and stabilize the bone until healed. [0004] Another common orthopaedic procedure is a hip replacement with a ball and socket artificial or prosthetic hip joint. It is common that an artificial or prosthetic hip joint needs servicing after several years of use. Sometimes the socket is replaced and not the ball. The ball in some replacement hip joints is held onto a stem by a friction fit called a "Morse taper". When replacing the socket, the ball is removed from the femoral stem so it is not in the way during surgery. With the ball removed, the Morse taper is vulnerable to damage such as scratching. What is needed is a protective cover or cap for the femoral stem during hip replacement procedures. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The olecranon plate is a segmented metal plate with holes to accept cooperating screws and K wires. The olecranon is fixed in place with two K wires that are held in place by a threadless friction type fastener that is applied once the plate and K wires are in place. The fastener prevents the K wires from backing out resulting in a loss of fixation and fixes the plate rigidly to the K wire. [0006] It is one object of the present invention to provide an olecranon plate for the fixation of fractures of the elbow. It is another object to provide a plate that fixes the olecranon or other bone using K wires, and a threadless fastener that is applied after the K wires are in place, preventing the K wires from backing out of the plate, or advancing and thus gaining fixation to plate. It is another object to provide a plate that can be used for all fractures and osteotomies of the olecranon. [0007] It is also an object to provide a threadless or friction type fastener that can be used to secure a K wire in a variety of circumstances. [0008] The femoral cap is a disposable plastic cap shaped to provide a sterile protective cover for the femoral end during hip replacement surgery. It is placed over the femoral Morse taper after the ball is removed from the femoral stem. It remains protectively in place while revising the socket. A flange at the cap base allows the cap to be easily removed when time to reinsert the ball once the socket is revised. A vent in the top of the cap allows air to escape when the cap is fitted over the femoral stem. The cap has an internal diameter to fit tapers in common use. [0009] The cap is also used to protect the Morse taper in primary hip replacements when protection is necessary such as in mini-invasive surgery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an olecranon plate and olecranon [0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an olecranon plate with locking section [0012] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an olecranon plate with locking section [0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the K wires in place with the locking section [0014] FIG. 4a is a cross section view of the K wires, locking section and fastener [0015] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the fastener engaging the K wires [0016] FIG. 6 illustrates an inverted perspective view of the fastener [0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the olecranon plate [0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of the femoral stem cap DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0019] The bone plate of the present invention is adapted for fractures of the olecranon but the principles taught herein, particularly with regard to the fastening of K wires, may have application in a variety of K wire fixation systems. FIG. 1 illustrates the ulna bone 102 and olecranon 104. The olecranon plate 106 is attached to the ulnar shaft using screws (not shown). One end of the olecranon plate is bent to shape the curve of the ulna 108. One or more, and in this example two laterally spaced, parallel K wires 112 pass through the olecranon plate 110 and into the ulna. Continue reading about Orthopaedic appliances... Full patent description for Orthopaedic appliances Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Orthopaedic appliances patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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